Disappearing stand.



.G. E. KIRK & G. FQ OLDHAM-Y DISAPPEARING s'mmn. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 20, 1907. I 911,821, a I Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

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(LE. KIRK 3; G, P. OLDHAM.

' msAPPEARI'NG STAND.

APPLIOAYTION FILED Ji'ILY' 20, 1901.

91 1,821. Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

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WITNES ES WE Tons UNITED STATES PATENT oEEro.

GEoRGE F. OLDHAM AND GEoRGE E. KIRK, or TOLEDO, OHIO; SAID OLDHAM AssIGNoR TO SAID KIRK.

DISAPPEARING STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1907. Serial No. 384,812.

Patented Feb, 9,. 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. OLDI-IAM and GEORGE E. KIRK, citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Disappearing Stand, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a movable stand or platform.

This invention has utility as an attachment for oifice furniture to enlarge table space, more especially as a mounting for keyboard machines, as typewriters or computers, affordin a most rigid and convenient placing of the mounting for position of use, and permitting ready and complete removal to a disappearing position entirely out of the way when out of use.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a roll top desk, with parts broken awa showing an embodiment of the invention as a disappearing typewriter stand or hanger in position for use; Fig. 2 is a similar section to Fig. 1, showing the latform moved to position of disuse, entire y out of the way in the upper rearward portion of the kneeway of the desk; Fig. "3 is a perspective view of the attachment with platform in osition of use; Fig. 4 is a plan view of des engaging lug of platform side rail shown in elevation Fig. 8; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view on an en arged scale on a section through the desk top and the platform holding portions adj acent one of the platform sides; Fig. 6 is a detail of the connection between the pivot rod and the slide rod, the former being shown inside elevation; Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the connection shown in Fig; 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing in elevation the bent over desk engaging lug or ear of the platform side rail or bar.

The support or desk 1, having the table or platform top 2, has attached to the underside thereof a pair of ways 3, shown as rack channels. Traveling along each rackis a pinion 4, one fixed to each squared end of rod 5 so that they compel uniform travel or slide of rod 5-relative' to each Way, thus precluding binding or twisting out of the ways.

Loosely pivoted upon rod 5 adjacent each pinion 4 is, a bar or rail 6, having a curved portion near the rod5 and a straight remote portion at forward endr Braces 7 rigidly space the bars 6, and as shown form the Lucas county,

zontal upon which the load may be placed. The

curvature in rails 6 is such as to give the platform the desired convenient height for user.

j the platform, a lug 8 (Fig. 3) is fixed to each Just rearwardly of back brace 7 of side bar 6. A bracket 9 is screw threaded into each of these lugs '8, ermitting adjustment of the platform in eveling up for different thicknesses of desk or table tops. This adjustment through rods or bracket legs 9 is for varying the distance of the plane of the platform from the plane of the desk top or. ways. These bracket members 9 ave an angular portion remote from the platform, the tips thereof bearing pads or coverings 10 to prevent marring of surface with which they come in contact. As these members 9 are brought into engagement with the upper side of the desk top, they form a fulcrum, and load on platform causes the rail members 6 to act reversely to members 9 and against the under side of desk top.. To insure that each bracket 9 will have its straight upwardly extending portion firmly against the front edge of the desk, a bevel or incline 11 is placed in the upper portion. of each way 3, so as the pinions are lifted off the toothed portions, the inclines 11 tend to slide the wheels backward to bring the brackets 9 against the front edge of desk top.

On the platform formed by the rails 6 and braces 7, the usual board supplied with keyboard machines may be fixed, or a table top of any desired form may be applied. To the table 12 fixed to the platform, may be attached machine 13 having keyboard 14. To protect the machine from dust any usual cover may be applied as effectively as under any other circumstances. Instead of fabric cover, there is shown a metal cover 15 in Fig. 2, provided with handle 16. Rod 5 has squared ends 17 to key pinions 4 to rotate together.

Operation: To bring the stand up from the position of disuse shown in Fig. 2, which disuse position may be such as. to be just free of the knees of the user of the desk, if a cover provided with a handle is used, handle 16 may be grasped to pull forward. If machine is without metal cover, brackets or legs 9 may be pulled. When pulled to the forward. limit of movement or slide, the

platform, the braces being perforated .as in Fig. 3 for bolting thereto of table piece 10 are in proper position.

mounting or hanger is swung upward to ringthe ann a end por ions or feet of the brackets 9 just above the upper plane of the desk table top, after which a push of the platform toward the desk till the bracket legs contact the front edge of the desk top is followed by release so that the covering or pads 10 contact the upper side of table or desk top, which automatically and rigidly locks the platform, making it as free from vibration as the top of the desk itself. Whatever way it is convenient to place the machine on the platform, no part of the desk space is monopolized. A slight upward and forward movement of the platform will permit it to swing downward and slide to a position entirely out of the way-a most simple and effective construction.

While the platform, when out of use, may be carried entirely on ways 3, in the showing herewith there is medially positioned by brackets 18 fastened to the bottom of the desk top, the slide rod or way 19 spaced from the top and having a connection 20 movable therealong, which connection carries across the top of the rod 19 the transverse pivotal rod or member 5 of the platform. Set screw 21 permits of longitudinal adjustment of the pivot rod 5 as to the connection 20 to balance the loaded platform so that it may hang evenly. This feature may be desirable as an aid to uniform travel when the stand is moving to and from disappearing position. Besides this adjustment of the platform as to the way 19, the brackets 9 permit adjustment of the plane of the platform. The rails 6, and the position of the rod 5 determine the plane at which the platform may be leveled, which is here shown as outof the plane of the support or desk table, and below the samethat position most convenient for typewriters. To level the platform, screw threaded brackets 9 are rotated until their angular covered ortions As t ifl'erent styles of desks have some slight variations in thickness of top, this adjustment of the feet 10 is desirable in leveling up the platform initially.

While the rod 19 is ample to sustain and carry the platform in usual work with writing machines, with larger constructions, the evener, or the combined evener and rod are advantageous in distributing the load when the platform is in disappearing position or moving to or fro.

The bars 6 are so pivoted to the rod 5, that when in position of disuse they will travel free of the desk top or body to which the device is attached. When swung up to the position of use, the lugs 22 on the bars 6 come into contact with the underside of the desk top as the pinions 1 ride back on the inclines 11,. The connection 20 on rod 5 is sufiiciently free as to the rod 19 to permit of this engagement of the underside of the desk top by the lugs 22 of the platform frame. in position of use, the platform acts as a lover of the first class, considering the pads 10 as fulcra, the machine the power and the lugs 22 the weight. Accordingly there ('oacts with the table of the desk directly the two opposite or reversely acting forces at pads to and lugs 22. I

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The comlination of a cabinet having an overhanging portion, and a platform mountalle in operative position forward of the overhanging portion, said platform having an extension adapted to project and engage Leneath the overhanging portion when the platform is in operative position, and a hookshaped element spaced forwardly from the extension and projecting upwardly from said platform forward of and engaging over the overhanging portion, whereby the platform is maintained in operative position.

2. A mechanism for mounting on a hori zontally disposed support comprising a platform mountable in an operative position forward of the su port, said platform having an extension at t re rear end thereof adapted to extend beneath and engage the support when the platform is in operative position, a hook-shaped element extending upward from said platform forward of and engaging over the front edge of the support, whereai v the platform is maintained in operative position, a guide-way mounted on the support and extending rearwardly from the front edge thereof to permit movement of the platform from operative position, and an evener mechanism to preclude binding of the plat form in its travel along the way.

3. In a typewriter cabinet, a top, a machine support mounted on the calinet to move from beneath. the top to an operative position forward of the same, an extension at the rear end of said support adapted to extend beneath and engage the top when the machine support is in operative position, and hook-shaped members extending upward from said support forward of and engaging over the front edge of the top, where! y the machine support is maintained in operative position.

4-. A mechanism for mounting on a horizontally disposed support comprising a plat form mountable in an operative position forward of the support, said platform having an extension at the rear end thereof adapted to extend beneath and engage the support when the platform is in operative position, and hook-shaped memlers extending upward from said platform forward of and engaging over the front edge of the support, where. y the platform is maintained in operative position.

5. In a cabinet, atop, a guide way extending from the front toward the rear of the cabinet underneath said top, a platform mounted to travel along said way and to move from beneath said top to an operative position forward of the same, and means carried by said platform and coaoting with the forward edge of the top as the platform is moved to operative position for removing the load of the platform from said way when the platform is at its forward position. a

6. A platform mechanism for mounting on a horizontally disposed support having a top, said platform mechanism comprising a guide way mountable for extending rearwardly underneath the top of said support, the platform mountable to travel along saidway and to move from beneath said sup ort to an operative osition forward of the same, and adjustab e means carried by saidplatform and coacting with the forward edge of the support as the platform is moved to operative position for removing the load of the platform from said way when the platform is at its forward position.

In testimonywhereof We affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. F. OLDHAM. GEO. E. KIRK.

WVitnesses:

C. H. KAUOH, GEO. W. HUBER. 

